About the Complex

From sand dunes to salt marsh, from rocky, offshore islands to golden beaches, the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex offers a glimpse into the biological wonders of the San Francisco Bay Area. Despite booming industries and growing populations, these National Wildlife Refuges preserve an incredibly complex ecosystem.

Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge is managed as part of the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex. A National Wildlife Refuge Complex is an administrative grouping of two or more refuges, wildlife management areas or other refuge conservation areas that are primarily managed from a central office location. Refuges are grouped into a complex structure because they occur in a similar ecological region, such as a watershed or specific habitat type, and have a related purpose and management needs. Typically, a project leader or complex manager oversees the general management of all refuges within the complex and refuge managers are responsible for operations at specific refuges. Supporting staff, composed of administrative, law enforcement, refuge manager, biological, fire, visitor services, and maintenance professionals, are centrally located and support all refuges within the complex.